California winter

Our housing costs are astronomical, but so is our weather. It's January and we can still go to the park and even leave our doors open some days. Here is Claire in the doorway just seconds before she toppled over head first and landed on the doormat. One afternoon last week we had rain and sunshine at the same time. I sent Audrey out to see for herself. We love California.

Check us out

If you got our Christmas card and wondered what we look like nowadays, here's our most recent family picture. I send a letter because I don't mind if you read my letter and throw it away. However, I would feel very unhappy if you threw away my picture. I'm just superstitious that way.

Mark asked for a short disclaimer on the facial hair. I encouraged him to grow a beard while we were on vacation in September and he still had it when we took our portrait in November. He wanted to shave it, but I liked it so much I asked him not to. Thus, the red beard. It only lasted a few more weeks and then it started to make kissing him really unpleasant.

Here we are - don't we look festive?

Beans and Taters

It's funny how our ancestors' (mine Mexican, Mark's Idahoan) favorite foods typify our personalities. I am full of gas, he likes to sit on the couch. I'm bubbly, he's hardy. Beans and potatoes. French fries and frijoles. Alone we are pretty starchy, together we are good with eggs.

Some 17 years ago Mark and I met on our first day at BYU. We were both absolutely adorable then and when we finally managed a real conversation we were absolutely smitten. We have been married for 10 years now and show signs of wear, but we have two adorable daughters. Let the adorable-ness continue!

We've started this blog so we can share a bit of our daily lives with our loved ones. We'd like to maintain some privacy so we are not going to be specific about our specifics and we hope you will support that. MMAC